LAST WEEK: The Binghamton Senators (13-9-2-3, 31 pts.) took home four points this past weekend to keep pace in the tight East Division race.

FRIDAY, DEC. 12 vs. PORTLAND (2-1 W): B-Sens netminder Brian Elliott turned away 41 shots and Denis Hamel scored the game-winning goal in the third period to down the Atlantic Division Pirates. Hamel registered two points (1+1), as did winger Greg Mauldin (1+1). Peter Regin had two assists for Binghamton. The B-Sens are undefeated (5-0-0-0) against the Portland Pirates at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.

SATURDAY, DEC. 13 @ ALBANY (3-0 W): The B-Sens posted their first shutout of the 2008-09 season with a 33-save effort in net for Brian Elliott. Binghamton scored a goal in each period, with winger Danny Bois netting the eventual game winner in the first. Greg Mauldin made it two straight games with a goal making good on a B-Sens power play in the second period. Denis Hamel notched his 300th point as a B-Sen with an assist on Mauldin’s goal. Ryan Shannon capped the scoring with a late empty-net goal. Hamel collected his second assist of the night. The B-Sens penalty kill was a perfect 9/9 on the night.

THIS WEEK: The B-Sens play two divisional road games this week with a visit from Syracuse on Friday night splitting the road contests. The B-Sens face the Philadelphia Phantoms (17-11-0-0, 34 pts.) for the fourth time this year on Wednesday night at Wachovia Spectrum. The B-Sens home tilt against the Syracuse Crunch (14-12-0-1, 29 pts.) falls on Friday night, followed by a visit to the Arena at Harbor Yard to take on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (18-7-1-2, 39 pts.) on Saturday night.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 17 @ PHILADELPHIA (7:05 p.m.): The Phantoms are hottest team in the Eastern Conference, having won their last five games and eight of their last 10. Rookie Claude Giroux continues to pile up points for the Phantoms. The winger leads the team in goals (14) and game-winning goals (5), and is tied for the team lead in points (27) and power-play goals (6). The B-Sens are 1-1-1-0 in three games against the Phantoms, with their lone win coming at the Wachovia Spectrum on Oct. 18.

FRIDAY, DEC. 19 vs. SYRACUSE (7:05 p.m.): Binghamton and Syracuse face off three times in 11 days before the calendar turns to 2009. The Crunch won the first two in the season series, followed by two wins by the B-Sens. As the teams prepare for the fifth match-up of the season, Syracuse is seeking to snap a six-game skid. In addition to dropping their last six games, Syracuse has just two wins over its last 11 games. Center Josh Hennessy scored both Binghamton goals in a 2-1 over Syracuse on Sunday, Nov. 23

SATURDAY, DEC. 20 @ BRIDGEPORT (7:05 p.m.): The B-Sens are looking for their first regulation win over the Sound Tigers when the teams face off on Saturday night. Bridgeport held on for a 6-5 shootout win on Dec. 5. Peter Regin scored two goals for Binghamton in that game. Trevor Smith has three of the last four game-winning goals for Bridgeport. Bridgeport’s Mike Iggulden has 33 points (14+19), good for second in the AHL behind Keith Aucoin’s 36 points.

B-SENS LEADERS:

POINTS: Shannon (7+11) &Z. Smith (9+9)

GOALS: Z. Smith (9)

ASSISTS: Karlsson (13)

POWER-PLAY GOALS: Shannon (5)

SHORT-HANDED GOALS: None

GAME-WINNING GOALS: Bois, Hamel & Z. Smith (2)

SHOTS: Hamel (69)

WINS: Elliott (12)

SAVES: Elliott (590)

GAA: Elliott (2.58)

SAVE PERCENTAGE: Elliott (.919)

B-SENS ON THE AIR: Catch all the action LIVE on WINR 680-AM & WENE 1430-AM, via webcast or streaming video cast at www.ahllive.com